Study Medicine At The University Of Cambridge Medical School

Sophie curates content for Gap Medics, the world’s leading provider of hospital work experience placements for school and university students.

Sophie curates content for Gap Medics, the world’s leading provider of hospital work experience placements for school and university students.

The School of Clinical Medicine is the medical school of the University of Cambridge in England. According to the QS World University Rankings 2013, the University of Cambridge Medical School ranks in as the third best medical school in the world. The school is co-located with Addenbrooke’s Hospital on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.

Cambridge offers two medicine courses – the Standard Course and the Graduate Course. The aim with both courses is to educate students to become thoughtful, compassionate, skilled members and leaders of the medical profession.

At Cambridge, medical students focus on studying the medical sciences first before learning to apply that knowledge to medical practice as a clinical student. The emphasis during the Clinical Studies course in Cambridge is on learning in clinical settings – at the bedside, in outpatient clinics and in GP surgeries, which is supported by seminars, tutorials and discussion groups.

Regular assessments play a significant role throughout. Students’ progress is reviewed weekly as well as every term by College supervisors. Students also undergo formal assessment, which assesses their ability to continue with the course. Formal assessment includes clinical tests, coursework submission, written examinations, practicals and multiple-choice questions.

Half the clinical medical training in Cambridge takes place at the School of Clinical Medicine located on the Addenbrooke’s Hospital site. The Clinical School was established in 1976 during the construction of the new Addenbrooke’s building. The launching of the Clinical School meant the beginning of a completely new medical course at Cambridge University. Where the duration of the earlier clinical course was less than three years, the clinical course was restructured in 2005 with the addition of a new final year.

As of 2008 the medical school accepts some 260 British medical students each year and an additional 20 candidates from overseas. The clinical school accepts some 145 students.

Entry Requirements

All students who apply to the Clinical school must have a degree in pre-clinical medicine, obtained at Oxford, Cambridge or St Andrews. Students from London institutions are admitted as per individual consideration.

Students from Cambridge University can gain admission to the University’s clinical school on completion of 3 years of pre-clinical training and a further interviewing process.

Students from outside Cambridge University are also invited to apply providing they meet the entry requirements. Approximately 50% of the medical students leave Cambridge after their pre-clinical studies as there are not enough places on the clinical course for them all.

Applications from students who have failed at or been excluded from another medical school will not normally be considered for entry to Medicine at Cambridge.

All applicants for Medicine are required to successfully sit for the BMAT.

Undertaking relevant paid or voluntary work experience in a health or related area demonstrates commitment to and suitability for your intended career and is something that Cambridge looks for in prospective students.

While there is no blueprint for an ideal Cambridge student, each applicant is considered individually taking into consideration academic record, personal statement, school/college letter of recommendation, performance in relevant admissions tests and performance.

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